Pneumatic push-button and pump.



PNEUMATIC PUSH BUTTON AND PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1911. l v

Patented Jan.30, 1912.

fllllllllllllllllulllllll @wi/knew@ Y e @eeuu/qw troznup nnrr sTTns TTT f GEORGE A. KENNER, OF HERRIN, AND NTLLIAM MICHAEL AND THOMAS J. BURTON, OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC PUSH-BUTTON AND PUMP.

Application led August 10, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE A. KENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Herrin, county ofVilliamson, State of Tllr nois, and VILLIAM H. MICHAEL and Ti-ionms J. BURTON, itizens of the United States, residing at Murphysboro, in the county of Jackson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Push-Buttons and Pumps; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

l his invention relates to signals, and more especially to pneumatic signals; and the object of the same is to produce an improved reciprocating push button for creating a fluid impulse along a signal line to a remote point while avoiding the back 'pressure or suction which commonly takes place along that line. This object is accomplished by the construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a general longitudinal sectional view through the entire device and a portion of the tubing forming the inner end of the signal line, showing all parts at rest; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the stem and the parts connected therewith.

In the drawings the letter S designates a signal line, here comprising specifically a tube l connected at one end with one end of the head of a T-coupling 2 and its other extremity leading to a remote point (not shown), this piece of tubing having an annular indentation 3 adjacent said T-coupling forming a valve seat for a ball valve fl, and near the same a cross rod or bolt 5 forming a stop to check the movement of said ball valve when forced away from its seat. The signal line also comprises a second section of tube 6 connected with the other end of the head of the T-coupling 2, having a similar rod 5 through it, and having its outer end closed except for a fine inlet aperture 7 against which normally rests another ball valve 8 which plays between this end of the tube and the rod 5. Thus it will be seen that if an impulse of compressed air or other similar fluid is driven through the stem of the T-coupling 2, the ball 8 will be driven against the aperture 7 to close the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 1912.

Serial No. 643,349.

same and the ball 4 will be driven away from its seat 3 to open this valve so that the air within the tubing and the head of the T- coupling will be forced along the signal line and a signal at a remote point may be operated thereby. in conjunction with this pipe line and valves we preferably employ the following construction of push button which constitutes the gist of the present invention. The numerals 10 and 11 designate the upper and lower members or halves of a suitable easing, bot-h being substantially cupshaped with their flanges 12 connected by rivets or bolts 13. Between these anges and by said bolts is secured the edges of a. flexible diaphragm 14 which is sufliciently loose within the casing to have some considerable play when desired. The upper half l0 has a neck 15 connected by a short pipe section 16 with the stem of the T-coupling 2, and the lower half 11 has a perforated boss 17 and around the same several perforations 18 so as to admit air easily and freely below the diaphragm 14, while the space above said diaphragm and within the upper half or member is closed to the air Xcepting through its neck which the pipe section 16 connects with the piping above described. Through said boss slides the stem 2O having a knob 21 screwed on its outer end and standing some little distance from the boss 17 so that it may be either borne inward toward said boss or drawn outward from it as desired. Midway of the length of this stem it is enlarged and threaded as at 22 to receive two nuts 23 above and below the diaphragm and by means of which the latter is clamped in place upon the stem and removably and adjustably secured thereto. Upon the diaphragm by the upper nut is clamped the lower end of a spring 211 whose body is coiled around the stem with its upper end connected to a bridge 25 secured across the interior of the upper half 10 and having a guide 26 through which the upper end of the stem slides freely; and in its normal condition, without its coils having been either expanded or contracted, the spring stands as shown in Fig. 1 so that the diaphragm is flat and the spaces or chambers above and below it are equal. All parts are of the desired sizes, shapes, proportions and materials, and by preference the proportion adopted will be such as is necessary to correspond with the size ot the signal line and the distance to which the pneumatic impulse is to be sent.

rlhe parts normally stand as seen in Fig. l. It' now an impulse is to be sent along the signal line, the operator presses the knob 21 toward the casing, which causes Athe diaphragm to move in the latter as the spring 24 will permit, the pertorations 18 admitting air behind the diaphragm so that no vacuum will be produced. The air in front ot the diaphragm is driven through the pipe section 16 into the T-coupling Q, and as itcannot escape past the inlet valve 8 it is forced in the oppositel direction past the valve 4l and along the signal line S. lllhen pressure on the knob is released, the spring Q4 expands and suction is created within the inner portion ot.' the casing and wit-hin the l`coupling 2, and this suction draws the valve 4t to its seat 3 and draws the valve 8 ott its seat so as to open the inlet perforation 'l' and admit a charge et air trom the exterior. Assuming new that for some reason the stem Q0l should stick in its guides 17 and 2G and, although it is highly important that a signal be communicated through the signal line S to a remote point, pressure upon the knob does not produce the result imperatively desired. lt will be seen that the operator can grasp the knob and reciprocate the stem through. its guide so as to cause a movement to and tro ott the diaphragm lll to set up tirst pressure and then suction within the |"coupling, and the disposition of the two valves in the tube sections with their seats oppositely disposed toward the T-coupling will result in the pumping ot av supply ot' air along the signal line so that the alarm at a. remote point will be certain to be sounded. @n occasions also the spring Q4: may stick or become weakened by continued use, and the knob and stem will. not be projected. thereby to stand as shown inv F ig. l; and this objection can also be readily overcome by grasping the knob in the hand and drawing it outward betere inward pressure thereon given to set up the' tluid impulse and sound the alarm. lt is obvious that as it is drawn outward the air in trent ot it is expelled through the perforations 1S, atter which inward pressure on the knob pei-terms the function ascribed to it above. ln case either valve should become choked or stuck in its tube section, the latter is readily removed from the l'coupling for purposes ot cleansing and repair.

A striking feature ot this invention lies in the tact that when pressure on the knob is removed and the spring restores the diaphragm to the position shown in Fig. l, the suction above it thereby7 created draws air inward through the inlet aperture rather than creating a suction along the signal line as so commonly occurs in devices ot this character and which etten produces a supplemental signal at a remote point which is not desired. Again, suppose the signal line should spring a leak and an ordinary im` pulse would not sound the signal; vith the construction described above the operator could rapidly reciprocate the knob and a series ot several quite vigorous impulses would be pumped down the signal line so that sullicient air would accumulate therein to How past a good-sized leak and sound. an alarm in spite of it.

lllhat is claimed as new is: rlhe herein described pneumatic push but ton and pump comprising a casing made up ot two cupesliaped members having flanges around their mouths which are disposed toward each other, one member being closed except for a neck opening through its bottom and the other member having a tubular boss through its bottom opposite the axis ot said neck and a series ot' pertorations through its body, a bridge secured across the irst-named member and carrying a guide in line with the axis ot its neck, a flexible diaphragm clamped between the mouths ot said members, a stem passing through the center ot said diaphragm and movably mounted in sai(L guide and boss and having a knob at its1 outer extremity, nuts engaging the stem above and below the diaphragm, and a spring coiled around the stem and having one end engaged by one of the nuts and the other end secured to said guide, the spring in its normal condition holding said diaphragm fiat but being capable ot expansion or contraction by manipulation ot said. knob. ln testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence otl two subscribing witnesses.

@EGBGB A.. KENNER. lVlLLlAlt/i H. MICHAEL. THOMAS J. BURTON. Vlitnesses to the signature ot George A. Kenner:

llenar llloons, lomnrr FoLiinL. lllitnesses to the signatures ot lWilliam ll. Michael and rlhomas J. Burton:

C. V. TnLLE'rT, Davis ltanmuen.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

